Are you aware of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease?

We are not talking about fatty liver disease caused due to alcohol but conditions brought on by the wrong lifestyle. Dr Sakina Patrawala enlightens us

Have you ever heard of this term? Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Diseases (NAFLD)! It is such a long term in itself that it seems very confusing. I am talking about a liver condition, which is NOT caused by alcoholic over-consumption, but caused due to wrong/ irregular eating patterns and lifestyle.

Few causes to look at:

•             Irregular eating habits and overweight issues/obesity.

•             High sugar levels indicating pre-diabetes/Type-2 diabetes.

•             Insulin resistance where your insulin receptors on your cells are non-reactive to blood sugars, which in turn, spikes your serum insulin levels.

•             Higher triglyceride levels in your blood.

Symptoms to consider:

There are no early symptoms that would give you a red signal for a fatty liver/cirrhosis. However, prolonged fat depositions on the liver may give you the following symptoms:

•             Abdominal pain, especially on the upper-right side of the belly.

•             Abdominal swelling (ascites).

•             Enlarged blood vessels just beneath the skin’s surface.

•             Palms appear reddish.

•             Yellowing of the eyes, indicating jaundice

A confirmed blood test showing elevated levels of liver enzymes Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT) and Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST) by your doctor, will help him in his diagnosis and further course of treatment.

Is it reversible? Can it be reversed?

The good news is YES! If detected at the right time, it does require a healthy lifestyle change and physical activity!

Taking the first few steps

What should you do? How can you start planning? Here’s a list...

•             Manage your daily calorie intake – reduce your calories and space out your meals in order to shed off some extra kilos!

•             Include an hour of physical activity, every day. Start with a simple 1 hour of walking or jogging or a combination of treadmill + cycle + elliptical.

•             Keep a check on your sugar levels regularly (invest in a glucometer) and maintain normal sugar levels with the help of super foods like cinnamon, methi seeds, jamun powder, chia seeds, etc.

•             Check your lipid profile regularly and bring down your cholesterol. A well-balanced diet and regular exercise will surely help you there. Try adding garlic, flaxseeds, fish oil capsules, nuts, etc., to your diet and see the magic!

NAFLD management requires meticulous planning and execution. But, once you are into it, you will be on the right track. To end, I would offer some easy-to-remember tips:

L-            Lower the carbohydrate intake in the day.

I-            Increased fibre and water intake will help in weight management.

V-           Vitamin and mineral supplementation reduces oxidative stress and helps in NAFLD.

E-           Eliminate saturated fats (butter, ghee, cakes, biscuits, coconut oil, sausages, etc.) from the diet.

R-           Reduced physical activity leads to decreased insulin sensitivity and increased abdominal fat.